Earlier this year, a study in
the journal Environmental
Health suggested that the
ubiquitous sweetener high fructose
corn syrup (HFCS)
contained mercury—at
levels high enough to possibly
create problems for children
and pregnant women.
(Mercury can interfere with
brain development.) The
corn syrup industry's trade
association responded,
saying that the manufacturing
process that introduced
mercury into HFCS is no
longer used. Hold on, said
the Institute for Agriculture
and Trade Policy; the process
is still in use at four plants
around the country. Do
you have a headache yet?

Here's our advice:
Avoid foods that have
large amounts of HFCS
(look to see if it's among the
first four ingredients), but
not because you're worried
about mercury. Some
products may have traces of
the metal, but it's probably
not enough to worry about,
say some food safety
experts. The real problem
with HFCS is that we get far
too much of it—about 40
pounds a year on average.
Get less HFCS and your
diet will improve overnight. — Nancy Gottesman